Fiberglass v. Fiber Cement Siding In Minneapolis/St. Paul

Prior to fiber cement siding coming into the Minneapolis St. Paul market in the mid 1990s, local homeowners generally chose between vinyl, steel, aluminum, wood or stucco siding.

But when James Hardie introduced fiber cement siding into the Twin Cities market for residential use there was a new choice on the premium of siding options. The new siding option came with distinct advantages over its competitors, detailed below.

Apex Fiberglass Siding Installed On Chanhassen HomeNow, 15 years after fiber cement was introduced for residential use it has a new siding competitor at the high end of the market. Apex fiberglass siding is being introduced into the Minneapolis St. Paul market, and AMEK Construction is proud to be among the early installers.

This new siding system adds water-resistant functionality and a new level of durability to siding options, according to Paul Schmidt, who leads AMEK’s exterior siding team.

Fiberglass siding continues the evolution of home siding materials to less maintenance, more durability and tighter water resistance.

The characteristics that set fiber cement siding apart from vinyl, metal, wood or stucco siding remain. Those include:

  • Ability to withstand more impact and last longer.
  • Less maintenance than wood siding.
  • Planks are impervious to insects, mildew and rot.
  • Resistant to heat and flame, such as from a grill too close to the house.
  • Readily accepts paint and paint lasts longer than wood siding.
  • Comes primed or painted from factory.
  • Manufacturers typically provide a warranty.
  • Offers appearance of wood siding, but costs less and requires less maintenance.
  • Has a variety of profiles and designs, including two shake designs and four panel styles.

Fiber cement does have disadvantages, including:

  • Periodic examination required for re-nailing, caulk replacement, etc.
  • Installation can be more time consuming than vinyl or aluminum, and more on-site care required with the material.
  • Typically costs more than vinyl or aluminum.

Now, 15 years later, fiberglass siding is introduced with new characteristics setting it apart from fiber cement. Those include:

  • Installation uses no caulk, reducing maintenance even more than over fiber cement siding.
  • Being one-third weight of fiber cement makes it easier to handle on job site.
  • Withstanding temperatures of minus-30 to 350 degrees Farenheit.
  • Resisting warping, twisting and buckling and impact damage reducing dents, dings, splintering or chipping.
  • Color acrylic finish applied during manufacturing makes finish long lasting.
  • Being impervious to water.
  • Installing with a factory-applied water management system to ensure water cannot get trapped behind the siding where it causes mold and rot.
  • Being made from a sustainable material making it eco-friendly.

Disadvantages compared to fiber cement:

  • Installation requires more precise cuts and fitting.
  • Color and style options are more limited.
  • The cost is more expensive.

The disadvantages can be minimized by using a contractor experienced with installing fiberglass siding. To Learn more about siding your home with Apex Fiberglass siding, or to simply get some questions answered, call AMEK at 952-888-1200.